PTI, NEW DELHI: Paid news has become a "menace", Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said today, and asked newspapers to use their "power" wisely for the benefit of society. "Paid news has become a menace...it has become a weakness in the society," he told a gathering at an event to mark the launch of the Delhi edition of leading Marathi daily 'Lokmat'.

He said newspapers had the power to influence society which it should use wisely for the larger benefit of people.

Making a pitch for the use of mother tongue, the vice president said he rose to his current position despite studying in a school in his native Andhra Pradesh where the medium of instruction was Telugu. Naidu said parents pushing children to speak in English reflected their "weakness". The vice president, however, clarified he was not against any language. Stressing that newspaper should be the reflection of the society, Naidu asked the media to exercise the freedom of expression with responsibility.